Police shot unarmed civilians after Katrina, officer testifies

Federal prosecutors have accused New Orleans police of shooting unarmed civilians on the city's Danzinger Bridge days after Hurricane Katrina -- and then trying to cover up the incident. One officer has already entered a guilty plea, and yesterday, he spelled out what he said happened. From the Times-Picayune:

Hunter, 33, said a New Orleans police sergeant fired an assault rifle at wounded civilians at close range after other officers stopped shooting and after it was clear that the police were not taking fire. He also says he saw another officer in a car fire a shotgun at a fleeing man's back, although the man did nothing suggesting he was a threat to police.

That man, the Times-Picayune says, was severely mentally disabled, and he died as a result of the shooting, one of two who were killed. Four others were wounded. The attorneys for the accused police say they didn't do anything wrong and, if anything, feel more confident about their case after this latest development -- though they're not saying why.

Hat Tip: Many thanks, Marvin! (Sorry about the incorrect, earlier HT, Marvin!)

Attorney Daniel Abel stands with Sherrel Johnson, mother of James Brisette, who was killed on the Danziger Bridge after Hurricane Katrina, after former New Orleans police officer Michael Hunter pled guilty in connection with a police coverup of their shooting of unarmed civilians, outside Federal Court in New Orleans, Wednesday, April 7, 2010. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)

Comments

[Marvin]

Glad to see some justice finally being done. It's been 6 years already.

[Jane]

Where are all the freedom lovers that posts on this blog about how corrupt our government is, where the police are just the long arm of the fed.

The police busts a wackjob militia and freepers lose their ever lovin minds. Cops opening fire on American citizens 6 FARKING YEARS AGO… nary a peep!

I guess it depends who the victims are.

[SupremePizza]

Mr. Robinson I agree 6 years is waaay too long.

[Shoden]

Not sure where you guys are getting 6 years. The shootings happened on September 5, 2005, which is less than 5 years ago.

Regardless of whether it was 5 or 6 years, it's good to see these cops being held accountable for their actions. It's sad that it's taken this long and that it had to go to the Federal level before we're seeing the possibility of justice being served.

[Shoden]

Edit: September 4, 2005.

[Sitting Bull]

Sick kid today Jane. We've had some kind of bug with the change of weather.

This is NOT new "news." This has been a well known fact for years. Not only did NOPD officers shoot, kill and wound innocents after Katrina, the FBI and the weekend warriors went door to door confiscating guns from law-abiding citizens so they could not defend themselves from the nazi N.O. police or looters or other criminals. I'm not making this up. It was an absolute trashing of the Constitution when these Americans needed it the most. Historically, NOPD has been amongst the most corrupt in the country.

http://vodpod.com/watch/1771470-youtube-nra-the-untold-story-of-gun-confiscation-after-katrina

http://vodpod.com/watch/1077149-new-orleans-gun-confiscation-video-abc-news

[Marvin]

Whew! Thanks Shoden! Six years is awful long to try cops on cold-blooded murder, but I can handle 5.

[Jo Jo]

That is a long time, but it's good that they're being brought to answer for it. Hopefully there are good cases to be made, and these fools will pay up for what they've done.

[nader paul kucinich gravel mckinney]

remember 'shoot to kill'
remember 'zero tolerance'

both from 'our' government

[Nemesis]

"Where are all the freedom lovers that posts on this blog about how corrupt our government is, where the police are just the long arm of the fed."

Sitting Bull is correct, this is old news. But I agree with your assessment of the corruption in government, becuase it was in fact the first time active duty military (Not National Guard) was used in a civilian police role. As easy as it is for people to think the federal government bungled the whole Katrina Aid program, most of it was by design, so it would get out of hand so they would have an excuse to send in regular duty Military. The not so ironic part of it is that the groups that were most capable of stepping in were told to stand down.

[Paul Harris]

The dominos keep falling. As a former Probation Officer I can attest that in far too many law enforcement agencies there's a code of "loyalty". If you narc out another officer you will probably pay for it. It may be a simple slashing of your car tires, or worse, someone not backing you up in a dangerous situation. Until this culture of protecting the guilty, just as it was in the Catholic Church is dismantled we will continue to see these situations arise.

Also I wish the media would concentrate more on correcting the mistakes it made in its reporting after Katrina. While we believed the rumors inside, the murders and rapes in the Superdome were not supported by evidence. We all were controlled by fear and rumor.

Paul Harris
Author, "Diary From the Dome, Reflections on Fear and Privilege During Katrina"